- Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina received backlash for being a part of Mega’s celebration of Pride Month
- Maxine Medina’s remarks against Miss Universe Spain Angela Ponce resurfaced
- Netizens bashed the beauty queen on different social media platforms
MEGA Magazine recently held its annual Independence Day celebration with a theme in line for Pride Month.
The Ball gathered celebrities and icons who support gender equality and this included Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2016 Maxine Medina.
As part of the social media campaign of the event, celebrities posted their mock-up covers with the blurb “We Are Equal” on their respective accounts which Maxine did as well.
On her Instagram, she posted a picture of herself celebrating and supporting the Pride Month.
She received backlash though because of her past comments about transgender women, in particular about Miss Spain Angela Ponce a transgender who joined Miss Universe 2018.
It was at a press conference of her movie Pinay Movie last year where she said, “Well, kung gusto talaga sumali, may pageants naman for them, na right for them, Para naman din equal sa girls, ‘di ba? Siyempre may gusto din tayong i-share. Lalo na sa mga women.”
A lot of netizens called her out on her being a part of MEGA’s campaign.
Dear straight people and fans of @MaxineMedina who think we're overreacting:
Trans women are harassed, abused, raped and murdered everyday. Here and all over the world. As inconsequential as Maxine's comment may seem, it's a symptom of a deadly sickness that ails society.
— Special Little Guy (@Miguelshmiguel) June 13, 2019
Tweets even surfaced that Maxine Medina blocked people who called her out as transphobic, some even called her the most “boba” Miss Universe candidate to represent the Philippines.
https://twitter.com/anyenponce_/status/1139077823174402048?s=21
so guys i was blocked by maxine medina because i called her out for being hypocrite. posting for mega for “equality” but being transphobic by denying trans queens to join miss u.
way to go to the most boba miss u representative we ever had. pic.twitter.com/6dMVSZ0TLm
— john (@imjohngo) June 13, 2019
With the backlash she received from netizens, Miss Universe Philippines 2016 apologized for the remarks she made last year.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BypGa9sjLdO/?igshid=6oa421fy0x8z
She also posted her statement on her Twitter account.
When I took a stand, that’s not for me to disregard Angela. I was concerned about the other girls joining Miss Universe but that doesn’t mean I am transphobic. I am proud of Angela and I respect her and the community.
— Maxine Medina (@maxinemedina) June 13, 2019
If I have offended people, I am sorry but it was never my intention.
— Maxine Medina (@maxinemedina) June 13, 2019
People still called her out for blocking those who wanted to educate her.
she still blocked all those people who tried to respectfully educate her tho lol
— T♡NI ⁷ (@candyGalaxies) June 14, 2019
